Self‐determination in the UN era: A response to Peter Sproat

This article argues that self‐determination in the UN era is a multi‐faceted concept that seeks to promote civic nationalism within states while preserving territorial integrity and sovereignty rights. To this end, the UN has expounded an internal and external conception of self‐determination. The internal view is broad and imposes obligations upon states and confers rights on peoples or nations to seek representative governments. The external view of self‐determination refers to a purported right of secession and is narrowly construed in favor of states’ rights. In current international law, no right of secession exists for any nation or people. Therefore, to accuse the UN of encouraging or appeasing ethnic cleansing and favoring a right of secession in international law, as Sproat contends, misinterprets both the UN's view of self‐determination and international practice.